Alumni

Welcome

UASAA is an open membership organization whose purpose is to serve as a vital connection between the alumni and the University. The UASAA communicates and advocates the goals and program of UAS, and fosters a continuous sense of community by establishing relationships and networking among alumni.

JOIN US! Taking Nominations for UASAA Board of Directors

Each year, the UAS Alumni Association actively seeks 3 new or returning board members to serve on the UASAA Board of Directors.

Qualifications: A person must be an active member to run for and/or serve on the Board of Directors. (Membership information is available through the UAS Alumni Office, 796-6569.)

Tenure: Three years. Seats expire December 31, 2019.

Deadline: All nominations must be received by the UAS Alumni Relations office via mail, fax or email before 5:00 PM on Friday, December 23, 2016.

Once approved by the board, the selected individuals will be contacted by the Alumni Manager in order to accept or decline the nomination.

Contact Us

About UAS Alumni & Friends

Our Mission

Established in 1987, UASAA is an open membership organization whose purpose is to serve as a vital connection between the alumni and the university. The UASAA communicates and advocates the goals and programs of UAS, and fosters a continuous sense of community by establishing relationships and networking among alumni.

We Want to Hear From You!

This is a space to stay connected with UAS and your fellow alums. Send us news and updates on your and other alums' whereabouts, hobbies, awards, community work, professional path, or anything you'd like to share! Feel free to poke around in our attic of memories. Visit old friends, slip on over to Sitka, and then see what's cooking in Ketchikan. Renew old friendships and make new ones. Hang out. There are no final exams to detract from the moment. Feedback, photos, or ideas you can email our way will be greatly appreciated.

David Campbell, President

David Campbell is a life-long Alaskan, born and raised in Fairbanks. David moved his family to Juneau from Anchorage in 1995 to work as a police officer with the Juneau Police Department. David enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor activities, cooking, and attending local cultural events. JPD David has worked in patrol, narcotics, community services, investigations, and administration, currently a Lieutenant. David’s additional duties have included serving as a field training officer, negotiator, polygraph examiner, and JPD spokesperson. David received a BA in Justice from UAA in 1994, and a MPA from UAS in 2013. For many years David has volunteered for UAS alumni events including the Gustavus and Haines golf tournaments, Rotary Wine Auction, and Alumni Dinner and Auction. David is looking forward to contributing more to the Alumni Association and feels being part of the board will help make that happen.

Karen Polley, Vice President

Karen Polley has worked in public education in Alaska since moving to Alaska in the late 1960’s. She has worked for the Juneau-Douglas School District, the Alaska Department of Education, Southeast Regional Resource Center, and the University of Alaska Southeast. She retired in 2005 after serving as the Campus Director in Ketchikan for five years. She graduated from Eastern Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics Education. She received a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Alaska, Juneau in 1978. She has been a teacher, education administrator, political consultant, grant writer, small business entrepreneur, licensed boat captain and tour operator. She currently operates her own jewelry manufacturing business Stone Soup Alaska Designs. She has been active in professional and civic organizations including the Alaska Home Economics Association, The Alaska Vocational Association, Rotary 2000, and is a lifetime member in the University of Alaska Southeast Alumni Association. Karen resides in Juneau, Alaska, and has received awards from her professional associations for leadership and service. She spends the summers at her cabin near Pelican, Alaska.

Maren Haavig, Treasurer

Maren Haavig is a life-long Alaskan. She was born and raised in Sitka and has lived in Juneau since 1994. Along with her husband and two golden retrievers she enjoys the many recreational, cultural and educational opportunities that Southeast Alaska provides. UAS has been a big part of Maren’s life for almost two decades. In the mid-90s she began working on a BBA with an emphasis in Accounting. Some years later she returned to UAS and earned an MBA in August of 2012. After years of being an adjunct professor, Maren became a part of the UAS School of Management faculty and enjoys teaching, advising and working within the UAS community. Maren hopes to broaden her service to UAS through participation on the UAS Alumni and Friends Board of Directors.

Kevin Brooks

Kevin is a 1989 graduate of the MBA program at UAS. He moved to Alaska from Detroit, Michigan in 1983 after completing undergraduate work at the University of Michigan. He has worked for the State of Alaska for nearly 30 years and currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Kevin says, “Pursuing an advanced degree at UAS has served me well in my career, and I have seen the value of well-educated and well-prepared graduates entering the workforce. UAS can help to meet that need. I have enjoyed staying in touch with other alumni over the years through a variety of UASAA activities. After raising four kids to young adults, I now have the time to become more active and contribute to the alumni association.”

Lola Foss

Lola is the Director of Finance for Alaska Travel Adventures and Adjunct Professor of Accounting for the University of Alaska Southeast, and has experience in the accounting field dating back to 1988. Prior work experience includes, Director for Finance for Sealaska Heritage Institute, Accounting Manager for the Southeast Regional Health Consortium and Controller for the Juneau Empire in Juneau, Alaska. Lola received her MBA from the University of Alaska Southeast in May 2012 and Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, also from UAS, in 1999. Lola has strong ties to Juneau, having served as Treasurer for the Southeast Road Runners Club and the Glacier Volunteer Fire Department Association. Lola is also a certified Firefighter-I, serving under the Capital City Fire/Rescue since December 2002 as a firefighter/EMT. Ms. Foss is also a member of the University of Alaska Southeast Alumni and Southeast Roadrunners Club. Lola recognizes a real need in the business community for skilled bookkeepers and accountants. Serving on the Board of Directors for UASAA would enable her to identify ways UAS can work towards meeting that need through education, curriculum development, and improving current programs.

Debra O'Gara

Debra is the Presiding Judge for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central Council) Court. Prior to assuming her new position, Debra served as the Tribal Court chief justice (2012-2015) and magistrate (2007-2010) where she presided over child support cases. As presiding judge, she will be responsible for the operation and advancement of the court to include child welfare and juvenile justice alternative sentencing. She will hear and decide judicial matters and enter judgments and orders in paternity, child support, domestic violence, as well as generalized family law matters under tribal, federal, and state law.

Debra has over 25 years of experience practicing law as a prosecutor, staff attorney, private practitioner and mediator. Her areas of expertise are in Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), child support, domestic violence, criminal law, tribal sovereignty, fishing and hunting rights, and jurisdictional issues. She grew up in the Seattle area and spent summers in Mountain Village, Alaska, where her mother was born and raised. Her Tlingit name is Djik Sook and she is a Raven from the Teey Hit Taan clan. She is the niece of the late William Paul and great-granddaughter of the late Tillie Paul Tamaree of Wrangell. She earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1987, a Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon in 1990, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2013.

Roberta Stell

In her own words: “As a retired educator and one who has a vested interest in the well-being of the University of Alaska Southeast, I feel I can contribute in many ways to the programming and activities of the Alumni Association. I remain knowledgeable and active in educational issues in Alaska and want to see the Alumni Association continue its strengths in numbers of members and in impact on current and future students at UAS. UAS serves students from the around the state and the alumni goals and activities should promote ways alumni from around the state can be involved and benefit from the activities the UAS Alumni & Friends Association.”.

Karol Kriens

Karol writes, "I am very delighted to have been selected for the UAS Alumni Board and excited to have an opportunity to serve UAS students, staff and alumni. I was a public school teacher early in my career and grew up in a family where education was important. I ended up with four university degrees and have worked in careers for which the degrees prepared me. Education opens many doors. I have retired from my early careers and have begun others. Working for the Statewide University of Alaska office while stationed in Juneau, I was fortunate enough to visit the Ketchikan campus and Sitka campus, seeing many successful educational programs at these two sites and having worked on the Juneau campus, experienced the daily Juneau campus educational progress. After my work with the University of Alaska, I moved to a management position with a marine services company that has a large presence in Alaska. I manage marine engineers that make environmental impact observations on the cruise ships that visit the Southeast. I love working for programs that make positive differences and improve the world around us and know as an UAS Alumni Board member, I will bring my positive attitude to help keep the group vibrant and growing.

Mona Yarnall

In her own words: “I arrived in Juneau as a UAS transfer student in 1991. I completed my Bachelor of Business Management degree at UAS in 1994 and earned a Master of Science degree in Sports, Recreation and Tourism through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. I have been employed full-time with UAS I.T. Services since 1994 and currently serve UAS as the Information Systems Manager. I teach tennis part-time and volunteer at the Juneau Gun Club. I have varied interests including tennis, softball, basketball, trap shooting and most recently venturing into a completely new arena of voice lessons. I am a lifetime member of the UAS Alumni Association and have enjoyed my previous opportunities to serve on the alumni board. I am looking forward to another opportunity to help the alumni association grow.”

I arrived in Juneau as a UAS transfer student in 1991. I completed my Bachelor of Business Management degree at UAS in 1994 and earned a Master of Science degree in Sports, Recreation and Tourism through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. I have been employed full-time with UAS I.T. Services since 1994 and currently serve UAS as the Information Systems Manager.

I teach tennis part-time and volunteer at the Juneau Gun Club. I have varied interests including tennis, softball, basketball, trap shooting and most recently venturing into a completely new arena of voice lessons.

I am a lifetime member of the UAS Alumni Association and have enjoyed my previous opportunities to serve on the alumni board. I am looking forward to another opportunity to help the alumni association grow.

Click here to be taken to the UA Foundation's secure site for online giving. We hope you will consider a donation to one of the following funds:

UAS Alumni Association Friends of the Egan Library Network (FOELN) - (80892, same as UASAA Programming Endowment, but specify for Friends of the Egan Library Network) - Your gift assists FOELN in planning community events in support of the Egan Library mission and define potential fundraising opportunities for continued strong support of the library mission.